Freda Mina Rix

Freda Mina Rix, at the age of 95 passed away on February 25, 2026, at the Kennybrook Village in Grimes, Iowa, surrounded by her 7 children.

Freda was born on February 5, 1931, in Starkweather, North Dakota, the daughter of Alfred and Mina Timm. She was raised in LeRoy, Minnesota, graduating from LeRoy High School in 1948. After graduation, she moved to Minneapolis to live with her sister, Gloria, and worked at the Carpenter Paper Company. She received a call from the First State Bank of LeRoy asking if she would come work for them, since the high school had given them her name because she was so good with numbers and bookkeeping. During high school, she had met the love of her life, Arden Daniel Rix and the two were united in marriage on November 1st, 1952, in Chester, Iowa. When they returned from their honeymoon, there was Arden’s draft notice, and he was sent to serve in the Korean War. Freda continued working at the bank until Arden returned from the war in 1954.

Freda gave birth to her first child, Rhonda, in 1955, then Dan in 1957, Patti in 1959, Brian in 1960, Karen in 1962, Todd in 1966, and Traci in 1969. She loved raising her 7 children. She also provided nurturing and love to many children whom she babysat in her home. Once Traci entered elementary school, she returned to working at Raccoon Valley State Bank in Adel.

Freda was a woman of strong faith, attending Faith Lutheran Church in Adel, where she was a pillar member, a servant, and a generous giver. Both she and Arden loved their respective churches, Faith Lutheran and St. John’s Catholic church. Arden would raise their sons in the Catholic Church, and Freda would raise their daughters in the Lutheran church. In the final years, she and Arden loved playing cards, as evidenced by their involvement in the 500 Club, JOY’s (Just Older Youth) Club, and daily cribbage games. But her favorite pastime was undoubtedly spending time with family.

Freda and Arden loved taking family vacations! Every year, they would load up the 7 kids into the family station wagon and pull a pop-up camper all around the states. Then later, as their kids went out on their own and moved to the 4 corners of the US. Freda and Arden were constantly on the road. She made sure she and Arden were present as their family continued to grow, with 25 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. This included even taking a trip to Europe to spend time with her son’s (Brian's) family, who were stationed there.

In their early retirement years, they would live at a Senior Park in Apache Junction, Arizona, from November to April to escape the cold Iowa weather. They made this journey from 2000 to 2010, meeting many new friends, playing games, and enjoying the great weather.

In 2018, Freda and Arden moved to Kennybrook Village Assisted Living. This was a season when the tables turned, and their children, their grandchildren, and great-grandchildren came to them for memory-making, card-playing, and continued joy in family. The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff of Kennybrook and Suncrest Hospice for their compassionate care of Freda and Arden in this season of life.

Freda is preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters: Gloria Heinrich, June Granowski, and Darla Maijala; and brother Allen Timm.

Left to cherish her memory are her children: Rhonda (Dave) Pasutti, Dan (Nazee) Rix, Patti (David) Delger, Brian (Beth) Rix, Karen (Joe) Ghormley, Todd (Gail) Rix, and Traci (Jon) Fredricks; grandchildren: April (Ryan), Jenny (Nate), Bill (Lauren), Kayla (Matt), Tyler, David (Alex), Matt (Lindsay), Stephen (Melissa), Joshua (Crystal), Katie (Kris), Michael, Joe (Melissa), Nick (Shandie), Emily, Amber, Bethany (Anton), Alexandria (Kyle), Austin (Allison), Mark (Taylor), Jacob, William, Mary Karen, Hudson, Maggie (John), and Charlie (Maddie); 27 great grandchildren (2 on the way); sister Yvonne Rix and brother-in-law Reino Maijala; as well as many more nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Monday, March 2, 2026, at Faith Lutheran Church in Adel, Iowa at 10:00 a.m. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. with an interment to follow at Oakdale Cemetery in Adel, Iowa. A luncheon will be held at Faith Lutheran Church, and all who attend are invited to the graveside or stay at the luncheon and wait for family and friends to return to share memories and stories of Freda’s legacy. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Faith Lutheran Church of Adel or Mainstream Living Knapp House, where their granddaughter Emily resides.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.caldwellparrish.com